Summary of On the Scent | Critical Role | Campaign 4, Episode 7 Part 2

Overview of On the Scent | Critical Role | Campaign 4, Episode 7 Part 2

This episode continues Campaign 4 after the party wakes in Gormle (Timony). The group chases clues about a giant mastiff/hound seen near the shrine, discovers it’s a royal hound tied to King Augustus, learns troubling ties between local nobles (House Sarami & House Taconus), and follows political machinations into the rain-soaked barony of Slocke. The episode ends on a tense infiltration: disguised healers gain entry to Castle Slocke while the rest of the party maneuvers outside, setting up a confrontation with Casimir Gavindale and the surrounding forces.

Scene-by-scene summary

• Returning to Gormle: The party wakes in a rickety apple cart. They debate whether to pursue a very large mastiff they saw the night before.
• Investigation at the shrine/tavern: Cadogan and Wolfric find massive paw prints leading into the local tavern; the hound (with blue-splotched fur) is discovered sleeping by the hearth.
• Interaction with Morgaine and Gwen: The barmaid Gwen and Dame Morgaine (a hound of the king) appear; Morgaine is polite but cryptic. The party gets stew and learns Morgaine will travel to Slocke the next day.
• Discovery upstairs: A look in an upstairs room reveals a kite shield bearing the crest of House Sarami (a vassal of House Taconus) — an important clue.
• The hound speaks: Cadogan uses Speak with Animals; the dog is intelligent and talkative, confirms it’s a hound of the king and points out the hound Hawkins.
• Travel to Slocke: Rainy, bleak terrain (Kavrosi Mountains). The town is small, the castle in disrepair but still a focal point.
• Reconnaissance: The party spots a procession—Sarami and Taconus banners—converging on Castle Slocke. Wolfric scouts. Thimble flies and scouts the castle parapet.
• In the castle courtyard: Thimble sees Casimir Gavindale arriving with knights and a Taconus envoy (Dosset). Dosset presents the deed/title to Casimir — the same deed Cid had stolen earlier. Casimir is humiliated and physically abused by a Sarami knight in public.
• Tactical decisions & plan: The party discusses ambush vs. stealth. Thimble, Cadigan, and Tyranny move to shadow the castle; Wickandr and Tyranny perform a risky front-of-house deception (disguises, Charm Person, Suggestion) to get a “healer” team into the castle as a distraction.
• Entry & cliffhanger: Charm and persuasion work enough to gain audience. “House Halavar” (the false healer cover) is announced; the party enters Castle Slocke, finds Casimir in the courtyard, and prepares for the next move — episode ends on this cliffhanger.

Key characters & NPCs introduced or central this episode

• Casimir (Kazimir) Gavindale — newly empowered Lord of Slocke; cruel, volatile; publicly humiliated and dangerous.
• Dame Morgaine — a hound of the king (royal druidic/animal agent); travels to Slocke and is polite but formidable.
• Gwen — young barmaid at the timony tavern.
• Hawkins — name of the hound/royal mastiff referenced.
• Dosset Taconus — envoy from House Taconus who returns the title to Casimir.
• Knight of House Sarami — publicly humiliates Casimir; Sarami is a vassal of Taconus.
• Univir Taconus — relative of Taconus family with distinctive skull-style face tattoos; ominous presence.
• Gully Breaches — castle knight who interacts with the party during their fake-healer ruse.
• Cid — the party’s missing friend (previously stolen the title); his current whereabouts are unknown but clearly connected to this deed/event.

Major developments, clues, and revelations

• The mastiff is confirmed as a royal hound (Hawkins), linked to King Augustus — hounds can be political actors.
• House Sarami’s crest is found in the party’s prior lodgings, tying Sarami/Taconus interests to the party’s movements.
• Dosset Taconus returned the deed/title to Casimir in Slocke — the deed was the object Cid took, so Cid was involved with this title’s movement.
• There is open friction between Casimir and Taconus/Sarami; Casimir is unstable, resentful, and willing to brutalize villagers.
• Numbers & force estimate: Casimir arrives with ~6 knights, ~8 men-at-arms, and multiple crow-keepers (crow-affiliated agents). Those figures frame the scale of any immediate confrontation.

Tactical situation & stakes

• Terrain: Rainy, tight village in mountain foothills; Castle Slocke is small, partially ruined (collapsed tower), with poor internal fortifications — infiltration is possible but risky.
• Enemy disposition: A mixed party of Taconus envoys, Sarami knights, and Casimir’s men; some knights are better-equipped and organized than others.
• Immediate risk: Casimir’s cruelty and desire to enforce himself (double taxes, punish villagers) raises moral urgency; Casimir earlier declared he wanted Sid hanged — the party’s missing ally could be in danger.
• Party options explored: direct ambush (road or castle), stealth infiltration, distraction tactics (Wickandr/Tyranny’s healer ruse), or tracking the procession later. They chose infiltration combination: front distraction to gain entry while others slip in around the walls.

Notable lines & beats

• Dame Morgaine to party: “He is bold, but he will not harm you without first trading words.” (instruction to converse with Hawkins if encountered)
• Public humiliation scene: Sarami knight beating Casimir with the flat of a sword after Dosset hands the deed back — establishes the power dynamics and Casimir’s brittle rage.
• Tactical/fun beat: The party’s disguises, charm/spell gambits, and a “sexy nurse” diversion produce a comedic/tense roleplay sequence that succeeds in getting them inside the castle.

Clues to follow up (what to listen/watch for next)

• Where is Cid exactly? The deed was returned in Slocke; Cid’s involvement is confirmed but location is unknown.
• Why did Taconus return the deed? Political motives and alliances (Taconus, Sarami) need unpacking.
• Dame Morgaine’s presence and royal-hound involvement — does the king or his agents have larger designs here?
• The internal layout of Castle Slocke and whether the party can extract information or Cid safely.
• Univir Taconus’ role (tattoos, silent magic user vibe) — potential spellcaster to watch.

Cliffhanger & “what to expect next”

The party has successfully infiltrated Castle Slocke under false pretenses (House Halavar healers). Casimir Gavindale is present in the courtyard and remains volatile. The episode ends with tensions very high and the party poised to act inside the keep — expect confrontation, possible interrogation or rescue attempts, and revelations about where Cid and the deed fit into the broader political picture.

If you want a short takeaway: the party has uncovered Taconus/Sarami involvement with the deed Cid stole, Casimir is a dangerous and unstable local lord, and the group is now inside Castle Slocke ready to probe for information — next episode will likely reveal Cid’s fate and escalate the conflict with House Taconus/Sarami.